Download Resources for the Journey - Western District Conference

Resources for the Journey
Western District Conference
All books are in the Resource Library unless asterisked.
http://mennowdc.org/library/
1. Biblical Story: As a pastor ordained in Mennonite Church USA, I want to be
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firmly grounded in the Biblical story and foundational theology and preach and
teach the Word of God for life transformation.
Driver, John, Understanding Atonement for the Mission of the Church (1986).*
Ewert, David, A General Introduction to the Bible (1990)
o Covers the landscape from ancient manuscripts to present translation.
Ewert, David, How to Understand the Bible (2000).
o A good basic text for how to interpret scripture and understand the basic kinds
of literature in the Bible.
Finger, Thomas, Christian Theology: an eschatological approach, vols. 1&2 (1985,
1989).
Foster, Richard, Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation
(2008).
Hawkins, Thomas R. Loving God with all Your Mind: Equipping the Community of
Faith for Theological Thinking (2004).
o Applying some of the new brain science to help groups in theological
reflection.
Hershberger, Michele, God’s Story, Our Story (2013).
o A basic overview of the biblical story from a Christ-centered
Anabaptist/Mennonite approach.
Kraus, C. Norman, Using Scripture in a Global Age: Framing Biblical Issues (2005).
o Issues included are Christology, hermeneutics, peace, sexuality, creationism,
miracles, social justice, and spiritual reality.
Mulholland, Robert, Shaped by the Word: The power of Scripture in spiritual
formation (2001).
Pietersen, Lloyd, Reading the Bible After Christendom (2012).
o Pietersen argues for putting Jesus at the center of biblical interpretation rather
than focusing on the Old Testament for ethics and Paul for discipleship.
Stanley, Andy and Jones, Lane, Communicating for a Change (2006)
o An accessible guide in preaching for life transformation
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2. Anabaptist/Mennonite Principles: As a pastor ordained in Mennonite
Church USA, I want to understand and embody core Anabaptist values, beliefs, and
practices.
 Becker, Palmer, What is an Anabaptist Christian (2008).
o Available online at www.MennoniteMission.net. A good, easily remembered
updating of the three core Anabaptist principles in Harold S. Bender’s The
Anabaptist Vision.
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Junke, James C. and Hunter, Carol M., The Missing Peace: The Search for
Nonviolent Alternatives in United States History (2001).
o Invites a wonderful rethinking of t violence-centered US history by imagining
how conflicts that were dealt with by war might have been resolved
peacefully.
Krabill, Donald B., The Upside-Down Kingdom (1978, 2003).
o A masterful companion to The Politics of Jesus, explicating the principle of
“revolutionary subordination” in the life and ministry of Jesus. Places Jesus
in his own historical-cultural setting and invites us to apply his principles in
our own time and place.
Loewen, Harry and Nolt, Steven, Through Fire and Water: An Overview of
Mennonite History (2010).
Murray, Stuart, The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith
(2010).
o Presents seven core Anabaptist principles as experienced by “Anabaptistminded” believers in the British Isles.
Neufeld, Alfred, What We Believe Together: Exploring the Shared Convictions of
Anabaptist-Related Churches (2007)
Roth, John, Choosing Against War: A Christian View (2002).
o Another good, and more readable companion to Yoder’s work.
Shenk, Joanna, ed. Widening the Circle: Experiments in Christian Discipleship
(2011).
o A look at emerging Anabaptist expressions of the church in North America.
Snyder, Arnold, Following in the Footsteps of Christ: The Anabaptist Tradition
(2004).
Yoder, John Howard, The Politics of Jesus (1972, 1994).
o A seminal introduction to the non-violent way of Jesus.
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3. Christian Spirituality/Discipleship: As a pastor ordained in Mennonite
Church USA, I want to grow in a spirituality that is continually being shaped by the
everlasting love of God the Father, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
 Augsburger, David, Dissident Discipleship: A Spirituality of Self-Surrender, Love of
God, and Love of Neighbor (2006).
 Barton, Ruth Haley, Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's
Transforming Presence (2004, 2010).
o a helpful book from a more evangelical perspective
 Boers, Arthur Paul, et al, Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer
Book (2010).
 Foster, Richard, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (1978,
1988)
o A basic introduction to the inward, outward and corporate spiritual disciplines.
A classic.
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Guenther, Margaret, At Home in the World: A Rule of Life for the Rest of Us (2006).
o This book has a chapter on "Learning from our enemies"-- forgiving as a
spiritual discipline.
Miller, Wendy, Invitation to Presence (1995).
o Mennonite spiritual director.
Peterson, Eugene H., The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual
Direction (1989).
o Helps a pastor move from frantic busyness to living and ministering out of the
being-center.
Schrock, Daniel P, Prayer Practices for Terrifically Busy People (2011).
o (written by a Mennonite spiritual director)
Willard, Dallas, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God
(1998).
o Using Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Willard explores life-changing ways to a
more authentic following of Jesus.
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4. Self Understanding and Self-Awareness: As a pastor ordained in
Mennonite Church USA, I seek a healthy sense of self and a capacity to enter into and
maintain healthy relationships with others.
 Goldsmith, Malcolm, Knowing Me, Knowing God: Exploring Your Spirituality with
Myers-Briggs (1997).
 McNeal, Reggie, A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual
Leaders (2000).
o A pathway to understanding how God has shaped you as a person and pastor
by looking at how God shaped Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul.
 Melander, Rochelle, The Spiritual Leaders Guide to Self-Care (2002).
o Tools to discern God’s intention for your life and to be faithful to that vision.
 Richardson, Ronald W., Becoming a Healthier Pastor: Family Systems Theory and
the Pastor’s Own Family (2005).
o A good down-to-earth introduction to emotional systems in the pastor’s own
life, family and congregation.
 Sisk, Ronald, The Competent Pastor: Skills and Self-Knowledge for Serving Well
(2005).
o This covers the landscape for a beginning pastor – self-motivation,
communication, time and stress management, leadership, spiritual
development and more.
 Thomas, Gary, Sacred Marriage: What if God designed marriage to make us holy
more than to make us happy? (2000).
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5. Contextual Awareness: As a pastor ordained in Mennonite Church USA, I
want to grow in my ability to recognize, interpret, and redemptively engage the
natural, cultural, ecclesial and global environments of my ministry context.
 Boyd, Gregory, The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is
Destroying the Church (2007).
 Carroll R, M. Daniel, Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the
Bible (2008).
 Griffin, Mark, and Walker, Theron, Living on the Borders: What the church can learn
from ethnic immigrant cultures (2004).
 Hirsch, Alan, and Ferguson, David. On the Verge: a Journey into the Apostolic
Future of the Church (2011).*
o More of the same won’t help a declining church. We need an apostolic,
reproducing movement where every person is living a mission-sent life.
 Kanagy, Conrad L., Road Signs for the Journey: A Profile of Mennonite Church USA
(2007).
 Keller, Timothy, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2009).
o Apologetics from a pastor who effectively connects with agnostics and
atheists every week.
 Shenk, David, Global Gods: Exploring the Role of Religions in Modern Societies
(1995).
 Steinke, Peter L., How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as
Emotional Systems (1993).
o Offers basic understanding of the dynamics in the local congregation from the
family systems perspective.
 ______, Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach (1996).
o A good follow-up companion to How Your Church Family Works.
 Tickle, Phyllis, Emergence Christianity: What It Is, Where It Is Going, and Why It
Matters (2012).
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6. Leadership: As a pastor ordained in Mennonite Church USA, I want to grow in
my capacity for administrative and missional leadership.
 Barrett, Lois, Guder, Darrell L., Missional Church : A Vision for the Sending of the
Church in North America, (1998).
 Barton, Ruth Haley, Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for
Leadership Groups (2012).
o Currently being used as a guide for biblical/communal discernment by
Mennonite Church USA.
 ______, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of
Ministry (2008).
 Esau, John A., ed., Understanding Ministerial Leadership (1995).
o A collection of essays by Mennonite professors and pastors on a variety of
pastoral leadership dimensions.
 Hamm, Richard, Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age (2007).
 Herrington, Jim, Bonem, Mike, and Furr, James H. Leading Congregational Change:
A Practical Guide for Transformational Journey (2000).*
o A comprehensive transformation model that begins with spiritual and
relational vitality.
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Hirsch, Alan and Catchim, Tim, The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination
and Practice for the 21st Century Church (2012).*
o Utilizes biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, and leadership
studies to demonstrate the critical relevance of the Ephesians 4 leadership
model for guiding the missional church.
Nouwen, Henri J. M., In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership
(1989).
o Works with the three temptations of Jesus to chart a course for leading in the
manner of Jesus: from relevance to prayer; from popularity to ministry; and
from leading to being led.
Peterson, Eugene H, Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity (1987).
o Focuses on the pastoral priorities of prayer, scripture and spiritual direction
Sawatsky, Erick, ed., The Heart of the Matter: Pastoral Ministry in Anabaptist
Perspective (2004).
o A collection of essays on various aspects of pastoral ministry by professors of
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.